Everyone knew that the 2020 presidential election was beginning pretty much as soon as the polls closed on Tuesday night. Potential Democratic candidates are already lining up like planes on the tarmac and the political press wasn’t going to be far behind. A new Hill.TV American Barometer poll was put in the field immediately to check the preferences of registered Democrats and independents. The choices were Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Michael Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton. The winner? None of the above. (The Hill)

The survey, conducted among 680 registered voters who identified themselves as Democrats or independents, found that “none of the above” was the most popular choice among potential 2020 challengers to President Trump.

Thirty percent of the sample said they would prefer that “none of the above” become the Democratic nominee…

Twenty-five percent of respondents said Biden would be their preferred nominee. Sanders, who ran in the Democratic presidential primary in 2016, came in second with 18 percent.

This is the second poll in a row which has shown Joe Biden on top and Bernie Sanders in second place when respondents are forced to choose somebody from a given list. But it’s at least interesting – if not terribly informative – that the “winner” from that short list is None of the Above. Is this a sign that the media is reading the public incorrectly and not offering them another choice who might have some early appeal? Or is it just that everyone is so burned out from the midterms that they don’t want to think about this yet?

I’m leaning toward the latter between those choices, but just for the sake of speculation, should the press be asking Democrats about some other choices? Who might make the list and score better than Biden or Sanders at this point? I notice Beto O’Rourke wasn’t a choice and I’ve been assured that he’s a shoo-in as a Democratic presidential contender. And what about Michael Moore’s preferred choices? Should these polls be including Michelle Obama, Sully Sullenberger and Oprah?

And what happened to Kanye? Somebody suggested Oregon Governor Kate Brown the other day since she’s term-limited anyway, but it turns out she was born in Spain. The choices are dizzying and I think most of the respondents would just like to make it through the holidays in peace at this point.

But when they do get around to doing serious polling and the potential candidates are forming their exploratory committees, let me just toss out one name that might light a fire in the bellies of the Democrats. Are you ready for… President Maxine Waters?